Could There Be…..

…. a more beautiful day!?

Gorgeous view from the top of the point!

Gorgeous view from the top of the point!

Waves of Sea grass.

Waves of Sea grass.

Yesterday in Nanaimo was a stellar day.  The skies were clear and the wind was blowing – quite common when the skies are clear.  The wind was blowing Hard!

Wonderful Beach Structure!

Wonderful Beach Structure!

We walked Sophie at Piper’s Lagoon.  The tide was way out and we walked around to the point.  There were several driftwood structures around the beaches of the point.  Each a unique piece of art.  I love the creative things that people do here.

There were windsurfers out dancing by each other on the waves.  They went so fast and seemed to be so close to each other.  The winds pushed the waves hard against the rocks and there was spray in the air.  The sea grasses moved in waves as well.

The Spotted Towhee

The Spotted Towhee

There were birds and flowers everywhere.  A Spotted Towhee followed and posed for me as we walked.

There was a three-way conference of Blue Heron’s up on the bluff above Shack Island.  I had never seen anything like that before.

I spotted a Heron about to land and took a few pictures.  When I got home and down-loaded the pictures there were the three Heron’s – What were they taking about!

Three Heron's at a conference on the bluffs above Shack Island!

Three Heron’s at a conference on the bluffs above Shack Island!

Small meadows

Small meadows

Beautiful Wild Rose

Beautiful Wild Rose

Wild flowers; small meadows of a clover like flower and huge banks of Succulents were blooming on the rock faces.  But it was the Wild Roses that got me.  They were all coming into bloom and the wind was blowing the flowers around and the scent was everywhere.

The scent of the wild roses permeated the air, mixing with the smell of the ocean – it was a great day to be alive and close to the water!

Happy Walking

Lynette

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Crystalline

 

Slowing drying!

Slowing drying!

 

Back Detail.

Back Detail.

Yesterday I painted Crystalline.  It is taking longer to dry than expected and is still on the floor downstairs.  It is quite cool right now and there is no heat downstairs – so longer should be expected!

It was good thing that I did as today does not look like it is going to be as nice as it was supposed to be!  Yesterday was a gorgeous day – start to finish.

Painting Crystalline took longer that I expected.  Especially as I was only working on highlighting the lace and not painting the whole.  I guess that there were more highlights than expected.  Crystalline is in every way - more than expected.

Painting at about halfway.

Painting at about halfway.

More highlights; more time – painting crystalline took almost four hours!; bigger than expected; longer to dry than expected – just more than expected at all points!

Blocked Crystalline is almost 36 inches deep in the back – each arm is 29 inches wide and each arm is 44 inches from the center back.  I must really believe that I am several inches taller than I really am!

IMG_7723There was a real wind blowing while I set up the painting surface.  I needed rocks and stuff placed strategically so that the Styrofoam and plastic wrap wouldn’t blow away!  Many pins were used as well!  The wind did settle down and the painting went along just fine!

This time I got the amount of charcoal just right!  It works great along the edges and highlighting the feathery arms.  I am not so happy about the rose center.  It spread more than I wanted – another factor of time management that I could not escape.  On the whole I am quite happy with the finish.  I can hardly wait for it to be dry.  Hopefully by tomorrow – today looks like another cool day.  It is clouding over right now.  Sigh!

Happy Knitting

Lynette

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My Inner Geek

Walking in the soft rain this morning.  Lots of protection from the overhanging trees.

Walking in the soft rain this morning. Lots of protection from the overhanging trees.

I admit it  – I am a Trekkie.  I have been since I was 12 years old and raced home to watch the original in re-runs after school.

Buttercups carpeting the borders of many of the paths around the parl

Buttercups carpeting the borders of many of the paths around the park

I grew up believing in and influenced by the idea’s and beliefs of Gene Roddenberry.  Watching Star Trek was my entry into everything else Science Fiction.  I read my first Sci-Fi Novel at 13 – Infinite Worlds of Maybe by Lester Del Rey; and continued on to Robert Heinlein, Isaac Asimov, Arthur Clarke, Gordon R. Dickson, David Brin and Spider Robinson – just to name a few!

Today I watched the new movie; Star Trek – Into the Darkness.  My Inner Geek is satisfied.

Wild Rose dripping with water.

Wild Rose dripping with water.

Watching a good movie is a great way to start a long weekend.  Especially after some knitting, breakfast, grocery shopping and a walk in the rain.

The rain was just falling softly as we walked around Diver’s Lake this morning.  There were lots of birds and flowers to be seen.  In most places the trees offered protection from the rain; aside from the occasional big drips.

The reeds are growing tall and green around Divers Lake.  They are fronted in many places by the wild lily pads and flowers.  Iris grow amongst them and the rushes stand tall through the year.

Reeds and Lily pads a Divers Lake

Reeds and Lily pads a Divers Lake

The wood ducks hardly looked real as they paddled through the reeds.  They are so colourful.

Wood Ducks amongst the reeds.

Wood Ducks amongst the reeds.

Did you know that holly trees flower?  I suppose that they must, in order to produce the berries.  I had never noticed their flowers before!

A flowering Holly Tree.  The flowers are hugely textured with the stamens so long and prickly looking!

A flowering Holly Tree. The flowers are hugely textured with the stamens so long and prickly looking!

Knitting is another way of satisfying my Inner Geek.  It has a certain symmetry that allows me to understand numbers and their connection to creation.  In nature, in life and in knitting numbers rule!

Live Long and Prosper

Lynette

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Sunshine

Sun illuminating a Columbine.

Sun illuminating a Columbine.

Yesterday evening the sun illuminated the flowers in the backyard.

My backyard is usually shaded, especially on one side.  But there is a small window of sunlight in the evening – just around 7:00pm right now.  The sun pours into the whole yard and for a brief moment the flowers are all outlined with light.

Lavender etched in Sunlight!

Lavender etched in Sunlight!

I grabbed the camera and started to take shots of the flowers as the light first hit and then faded.  It was magical.

Size 8/0 Delicas 24K gold finish - on their way!

Size 8/0 Delicas 24K gold finish – on their way!

We have a the May long weekend ahead and as normal I have more plans than time!  Knitting of course – lots of knitting.  I have a project to power through so that when the yarn arrives from The Buffalo Wool Company I can play.  The yarn and the beads are both on their way!

Halfway through and ready to start the edging!

Halfway through and ready to start the edging!

I have knit the first ball from the Great White Bale and hope to at least start the second ball.  I need to set up for the lace border.  Once it is knit it will be painted, something simple as the design and yarn are a little more “rustic” than delicate!

Center Back Motif of Crystalline.

Center Back Motif of Crystalline.

The big plan this weekend is painting “Crystalline”.  The weatherman promises that Sunday and Monday should be dry and therefore I will be able to paint!  It seems like I have been waiting forever!

More Columbine

More Columbine

The time was never available when the skies were clear!  The Painting class during the Fibre Festival was like a tease – it just whetted my appetite!

I hope that you have a wonderful weekend as well.

Happy Knitting

Lynette

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Opportunity Knocks

Opportunity

Our premier bison yarn. 100% Pure Bison Down at 17 wraps per inch twisted up with pure gold wrapped around silk, with just enough slack to make it work perfectly in knitted fabric, measuring 300 yd per 50 gram skein. Buffalo Gold is a 3-ply fingering-weight yarn ready for scarves and shawls that will become a heirloom in the making, intended to be worn for generations.   This is a special edition yarn, and probably will never be duplicated.

Our premier bison yarn. 100% Pure Bison Down at 17 wraps per inch twisted up with pure gold wrapped around silk, with just enough slack to make it work perfectly in knitted fabric, measuring 300 yd per 50 gram skein. Buffalo Gold is a 3-ply fingering-weight yarn ready for scarves and shawls that will become a heirloom in the making, intended to be worn for generations.
This is a special edition yarn, and probably will never be duplicated.

Opportunity knocked on my door Friday last week.  I was scrolling through Facebook and saw a picture of a gorgeous hank of yarn; attached to this hank was a small blurb with a read more link.  I read more.

The Buffalo Wool Company was having a design competition.

This was the last call out!

They wanted to someone to design something with their new yarn - Buffalo Gold – buffalo down with a little silk and a thread of real gold running through the yarn!

Visions of lace and beads and, and, ……  I was off and running.  Words came pouring out, sketches were made and launched out into the ether of E-mail!

Monday morning I got a call from Fiona.  “Congratulations” she said, “Duh” I said, it was morning – I wasn’t quite all there!  Posted on Facebook – in Ron Miskin’s own words…..

Ok, the long awaited winners of the Buffalo Gold contest…..

For Knitting:   Lynette Meeks, with Yippie Ki Yi Yea— which is going to be absolutely STUNNING!!!

I am so excited to be getting the opportunity to work with this yarn.  Yarn is on its way; Beads have been ordered – 24K gold dipped Delica’s.  It is going to be wonderful!

Classes

The classes are up for Mad About Ewe’s Summer Session.  The projects for the classes will all include beads except for the lace and painting class.  Only the first class – Nordic Beaded Wrist Warmers – must use beads, with the other projects the beads are optional!

Garden

 

I love the lilacs of spring

I love the lilacs of spring

 

Blooming Rosemary and a busy bee!

Blooming Rosemary and a busy bee!

Must stop knitting so that I have more time to garden – what am I sayingthat is not going to happen!  Must convince my husband to work more in garden – might be harder – but will happen!

Just the hostas are left to plant.  The clematis and small boxwood have been planted, the Rosemary that we were given last year has been transplanted from its pot into the ground and I was given two new lavender plants for Mothers Day!  Number 1 son (only son) does know how much his mother loves lavender!  Two beautiful hanging baskets are hanging by the deck – it is starting to look like summer!

New Rhododendron just opening up.

New Rhododendron just opening up.

The Lilac’s are in full bloom and the new Rhododendron is also blooming.  The Columbines we planted last year and just starting to bloom and last years hostas are huge.

Dirt will be arriving in the next week or so and then we will get the apple tree for the back fence.  Everything is starting to come together!

Happy Knitting and Gardening

Lynette

PS.  It looks like my Phacelia, might actually by Comfrey.  If so I want some for the yard.  They are gorgeous.  Thanks to Maureen to offering up that bit of information.

Sophie playing for the Sophie fans.

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A Rare Find

I love the curves of blooms!

I love the curves of blooms!

Beautiful

Beautiful

On our walk around the Estuary yesterday morning we saw this unusual flowering plant.  It is a type of Phacelia.  It does grow on Vancouver Island, but usually only above 1500m.  These plants were right by the road on the edge of the park.

It wasn’t just a single plant – it was quite a good spread of plants – they had been there for quite a while!

The leaves are large and like the stems seem to be covered in a fine silky “hair”.  Gorgeous.

There are over 200 varieties of Phacelia.  They are all beautiful.

Happy Viewing

Lynette

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The Birds and the Bee’s and the Flowers and the Tree’s

Small grace notes in a busy weekend.

Small grace notes in a busy weekend.

Bee's were everywhere!

Bee’s were everywhere!

This weekend was all about the quiet and the high notes that make up our lives.

Spotted Towhee serenades as we walk by.

Spotted Towhee serenades as we walk by.

Herons on the beach; Eagles on high; Robins, Red Winged Blackbirds and the Spotted Towhees in the trees serenade us as we walk by.  Hummingbirds and bees move at the speed of light, buzzing in flight, both enormously busy at this time of year.

Rain spotted Thimble berry bloom.

Rain spotted Thimble berry bloom.

From walks in the parks we find the new flowers; at the Chase River Estuary every type of local berry is in bloom – we saw wild strawberry blossoms and wild black berry blossoms; the salmon berries are still blooming and the thimble berries have joined in.

Perfect Wild Rose

Perfect Wild Rose

The wild honeysuckle is blooming, my honeysuckle is still a week or two away.  The Wild Roses have just started blooming as well.  Bushes and trees are flowering and seeding with the approach of Summer and new growth is everywhere.

The never ending horizon.

The never-ending horizon.

At Neck Point the horizon went on forever this morning as the mainland was socked in with the clouds that brought the rain later in the day!  Two water turtles were sunning on a log in the small pond by the parking lot – I had never seen turtles that big, the shells on each had to be at least 12 inches across!

Amazing turtles

Amazing turtles

Beauty Emerging

Beauty Emerging

Thirteen for dinner last night.  I cooked the Easter Turkey as we were away at Easter and it was a wonderful evening with friends and family.  Tonight is just family and that will be wonderful as well!

People create art everywhere.

People create art everywhere.

Some of the plants that have been waiting to be planted got into the ground before the heavy rains fell – the rest will have to wait!

Hope that you are having a great weekend.  With friends, family and as much of both as you wish!

Happy Mother’s Day

Lynette

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